Subject: U-N / TURKEY / IRAQ (S ONLY) By DOUGLAS ROBERTS / GENEVA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/24/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-175995 TITLE= U-N / TURKEY / IRAQ (S ONLY) BYLINE= DOUGLAS ROBERTS DATELINE= GENEVA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY MORE AND MORE CIVILIANS ARE FLEEING THE AREA IN NORTHERN IRAQ WHERE TURKISH TROOPS ARE CONTINUING AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH GUERRILLAS. BUT AS V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS, SPOKESMEN FOR THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES IN GENEVA SAY THEY REMAIN GRAVELY CONCERNED FOR ALMOST TWO-THOUSAND KURDISH REFUGEES, WHO HAVE BEEN CUT OFF BY THE FIGHTING. TEXT: U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RUPERT COLEVILLE SAYS SEVERAL HUNDRED KURDISH REFUGEES HAVE FLED THE BORDER REGION DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS FOR THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF TWO U-N CAMPS AT ATTROUSH, ABOUT 160 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE FRONTIER. ATTROUSH IS WELL OUTSIDE THE TURKISH ARMY'S ZONE OF OPERATIONS. AND MR. COLEVILLE SAYS THE U-N HAS RECEIVED FIRM ASSURANCES FROM THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT THAT THE TWO CAMPS WILL NOT BE ATTACKED UNLESS THEY ARE USED AS SPRINGBOARDS FOR RAIDS BY GUERRILLAS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY. MEANWHILE, MR. COLEVILLE SAYS ABOUT 200 REFUGEE FAMILIES HAVE ASKED FOR U-N ASSISTANCE TO LEAVE THE BORDER TOWN OF ZAKHO, WHICH IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF TURKISH TROOPS. HE SAYS THE U-N ALSO IS CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF ALMOST 18-HUNDRED OTHER REFUGEES IN FIVE VILLAGES EAST OF ZAKHO. MR. COLEVILLE SAYS U-N OFFICIALS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH THE VILLAGES BECAUSE OF THE INTENSITY OF THE TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION. (SIGNED) NEB/DBR/MH/JWH 24-Mar-95 7:15 AM EST (1215 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------